the demographics and the promise

Harold Hodgkinson's article, "Educational Demographics: What Teachers Should Know," http://bonfire.learnnc.org/ncmtec1/DPI_NCsite/Lessons%20files/Educational%20Demographics.pdf.
helps us to understand the coming changes in urban schools by focusing on the shifting demographics in our society.

He starts by talking about the effect of transiency. This has an enormous effect on education as demonstrated by high school graduation and college admission rates; states with the highest transiency rates have the lowest graduation and college admission rates.

Due to the blurring of racial lines, (40% of all Americans have had some racial mixing in the last three generations) race is becoming less important. He states that the nature of race is changing and, by 2050, whites will become a minority in our population. Race data on the census is giving misleading information; most poor children are white but a greater percentage of black and Hispanic children are poor. Poverty, not your race, is the universal handicap.

Another important shifting demographic is the increasing life span for Americans. Hodgkinson raises the question: Will older people maintain their interest in the public schools after their kids have left the system? We will need to convince Seniors that their Medicare and Social Security will be replenished by the educated children once they begin working.

The tips Hodgkinson provide for the difference in world view's for people of differing national origin provide teachers with concrete examples of how to deal with certain situations. The underlying message is these tips is understanding. Once you educate yourself on someones background and current situation, you are able to communicate with each other on a much better level. The example he used when talking about transiency was very interesting, "knowing your neighbor will prevent you from stealing his lawnmower." When you know someone, and have an understanding for their culture, you can then begin to understand their actions.

This message of understanding in the tips he discusses gives us hope for our schools. If teachers make a conscious effort to really get to know the students they have and try to understand where they are coming from, they will be able to communicate with them in a way the child understands. Forming this path of communication through understanding will lead to a better educational experience for both the student and the teacher.